By day, Thorkild Simonsen was the serious Social Democrat who served as Aarhus mayor from 1982 to 1997 before becoming Denmark’s Interior Minister. But few knew about his alter ego as “The Hip-Hop Mayor.”
After hours, Mayor Simonsen would exchange his formal attire for street clothes and visit underground hip-hop venues. Despite being in his 50s when hip-hop emerged globally, he embraced the culture and occasionally performed his own political rhymes.
His unofficial recordings circulated among Aarhus youth, translating municipal politics into beats and rhymes that connected with younger citizens. Even after becoming Interior Minister under Prime Minister Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, where he tackled tough immigration policies, Simonsen maintained his musical connections.
Thorkild Simonsen passed away in 2022 at age 96, leaving behind both his official political legacy and his surprising reputation as Denmark’s most unlikely hip-hop enthusiast.
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#aarhusernr1 #frihedlighedoghiphop #tankhiphop Aarhus er # 1 Opening at @kunsthalaarhus this June
